Saturday, March 30, 2013

Legislation that would award the injured from the 2009 Fort Hood shooting the Purple Heart would adversely affect the trial of Maj. Nidal Hasan by labeling the attack terrorism, according to a Defense Department document obtained by Fox News.

The document comes following calls from survivors and their families for the military honor, because they say Fort Hood was turned into a battlefield when Hasan opened fire during the November 2009 attack. Fox News is told that the DOD “position paper” is being circulated specifically in response to the proposed legislation.

The document reads in part:

"Passage of this legislation could directly and indirectly influence potential court-martial panel members, witnesses, or the chain of command, all of whom exercise a critical role under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Defense counsel will argue that Major Hasan cannot receive a fair trial because a branch of government has indirectly declared that Major Hasan is a terrorist -- that he is criminally culpable."

(Annapolis) -- “Despite the serious erosion of our Second Amendment rights in the O’Malley-Brown Gun Bill, I was able to offer several significant amendments approved by the Joint Committee which will remove burdens on the disabled and protect gun owners all over the state.” stated Delegate Michael A. McDermott (R-Worcester & Wicomico Counties). Today the House Judiciary Committee and Health & Government Operations Committee met to vote on SB-281, the so-called “Firearm Safety Act of 2013.”Delegate McDermott’s first amendment adopted by the Joint Committee will exempt the Maryland Defense Force from many aspects of the bill. It would allow members of the Maryland Defense Force to buy guns from the list of banned “assault weapons” and to purchase or receive a handgun without having to show the Handgun Qualification License, that is created under SB-281. Additionally, it would allow members to sell, rent, and transfer a regulated firearm to another person without having to show a Handgun Qualification License. Delegate McDermott’s second amendment adopted by the Joint Committee allows anyone who is 18 years or older and serving in the Armed Forces or National Guard to purchase regulated firearms. Under the original bill, anyone under the age of 21 would have been prohibited from purchasing firearms. “This substantial change in the law will provide for our brave veterans to return home and have the ability to own firearms which, before, were kept from them simply because they were not yet 21. It is clearly a right they have earned in defending our country”, stated Delegate McDermott.The third amendment adopted by the Joint Committee will protect individuals with physical disabilities from needing to go through a special board to get approval for the Handgun Qualification License. Under the original bill, anyone who had physical disabilities would have to apply to a special board in order to get a Handgun Qualification License. “I was pleased that we were able to remove this additional barrier to firearms ownership by the states disabled”, said Delegate McDermott. The last amendment adopted by the Joint Committee clarified that a person may obtain a regulated firearm through inheritance. Essentially, it will exempt inherited firearms from many of the other requirements in the bill and clears the way for possession by the heirs of regulated firearms. “This provides protections for transferring property in the form of firearms to your children and grandchildren,” said Delegate McDermott. Although these amendments passed, Delegate McDermott still strongly believes that this bill is a major infringement on Marylanders Second Amendment Rights. On the final committee vote on SB-281, Delegate McDermott stated “Not just no, but HELL NO!” The final vote count to SB-281 was 27-18. The bill is expected to be heard on the House Floor early next week.

Dr. Deandre Poole, the professor at the center of Florida Atlantic University’s “Jesus stomp” controversy, has been put on administrative leave following nationwide outrage.

The chaos started after student Ryan Rotela complained over an exercise during which Poole apparently told students to write “JESUS” on a sheet of paper, throw it on the floor and then stomp on it.

According to WBSF-TV, Poole’s removal from the classroom was for safety reasons, considering the widespread anger that the story sparked. FAU responded to the incident via an official statement on Friday.More

We have just been informed that reconsideration of the new false alarm ordinances has been scheduled for 4:30PM, Monday, April 1st in room 306 of the Government Office Building. Please attend and show your opposition to the significantly increased costs, and your support for those council members who want to fix the issue.Thank you and hope to see you there,

A study from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) shows the federal government's needless spending and costly regulations waste over $42 billion dollars–enough to fund up to 45,000 years of White House tours.

After the White House announced that its public tours would be one of the first government functions to be shut down due to the budget sequester's slowdown of spending increases, conservatives have highlighted government spending on inconsequential projects ranging anywhere from puppet research to snail sex.

The NRCC has compiled a "waste list" totaling $42,642,721,597 from its findings. Some of its expenditures include:More

Here's a great comment copied from the DT's article by a young Sby native. I hope he doesn't mind but I found it so wise that's it's worth posting here.

"Heaven help the people of Salisbury if we keep the forwardly backward thinking, non business experienced Jim Ireton... Salisbury right now is the smaller version of Chicago. Without the help of a successful businessman, Salisbury will continue to fall further into economic shambles. This article on the daily times is a joke. Attacking other people is up to blogs prior to the weekend before election. You are a newspaper! Write about specific plans that each candidate has for Salisbury! Ever heard that quote: 'SMALL minds discuss people, average minds discuss events, great minds discuss ideas!' Typical Salisbury"

Johns Hopkins pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson said Friday he is “absolutely” prepared to step down as commencement speaker for the university’s medical school after controversial remarks he made this week about gay marriage.

Carson apologized for any offense taken by his comments, when he was accused of comparing gay relationships with pedophilia and bestiality during an appearance on Fox News on Tuesday.

“Marriage is between a man and a woman,” Carson said on “Hannity”. “It’s a well-established, fundamental pillar of society and no group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality — it doesn’t matter what they are, they don’t get to change the definition.”More

This change on the council will end the voting bloc that has crippled Salisbury and renew the city’s potential. Salisbury has been blessed with outstanding City Council representatives and I am convinced that Day will be one of the finest to serve.

CHICAGO (AP) -- Airport operators are mounting a legal challenge to the Federal Aviation Administration's decision to cut funding for 149 air traffic control towers, accusing the agency of violating federal law meant to ensure major changes at airports do not erode safety.

Several airports are now asking a federal court to halt the plan and compel the FAA to more carefully study the potential safety impact, said Carl Olson, director of the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington, Ill. He warned that without a more cautious approach, lives will be put at risk by cuts that he contends are arbitrary and the result of reckless political brinkmanship in Washington.

"I think everybody's going to realize what the industry knows, and that is there is a razor thin margin of error in aviation and any diminishment of safety is going to have an immediate and cascading effect," Olson said in an interview Friday. "And all the talk to the contrary won't change that fact."More

"I haven't heard one proposal from [Obama] or Harry Reid that would've saved one life… I think it's a mistake to play on these victims and the emotions of their tragedy when nothing he's proposing would change one iota of what happened." -Sen. Rand Paul speaking on 'Hannity' last night about gun control laws and the Sandy Hook tragedy

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul joined ‘Hannity’ on Thursday night, telling guest host Eric Bolling that he will filibuster a gun control bill if and when it’s brought forward in the Senate by Majority Leader Harry Reid.

“We will filibuster the bill; we won’t let them bring it forward, because our fear is that once it comes forward, they’ll come forward with something that sounds benign in the beginning,” he said, “but we already have the Feinstein amendment, that talks about banning certain types of guns. That is inconsistent with the Second Amendment.”More

Come join
us Friday, April
5th
for a night of fun, food and friends at the Salisbury Moose Lodge on
Snow Hill Rd.

Quarter
Auction

To Benefit:

Doors open
at 6pm. Auction starts promptly at 7pm.

Tickets
purchased prior to the event are just $5. Tickets can be purchased at
the door for $10 unless sold out.

One free
paddle with admission. Additional paddles available for $3.

Event ends
at 9:30. Concessions available 6-9pm.

Items
for bid include a hand selected Thirty-One collection from their
spring catalog, hosted by local director, Cristi Witt.

(443)
614-3610 for tickets

HOW
IT WORKS

Each
item up for bid will be displayed for all guests to see. The
auctioneer then gives a brief description, retail value and how many
quarters you will need to bid. Guest will give their bid (quarters)
and hold up their numbered paddle. If you have more than one paddle,
you must place a bid for each one. When all bids are collected, then
the auctioneer will draw a numbered chip from the container. If the
number on the paddle matches the number on the chip drawn, the guest
wins that item. If a matching numbered paddle is not held up, the
auctioneer will draw again, until we have a winner. Once we have a
winner all chips will be placed back in the container and go to the
next item to be auctioned.

A local news affiliate in Idaho reported that the First Daughters, Sasha and Malia Obama, are on a Spring Break ski trip in Sun Valley, Idaho. The story quickly spread across the Internet when picked up by the highly trafficked Drudge Report website.

But hours later, the story disappeared from the KMVT website without an update or correction. Breitbart News confirmed that the White House requested that the post be removed.More

Earlier this week a committee in the Florida House of Representatives heard positions on its “Infants Born Alive” bill, which addresses situations where a child is still born after a failed abortion. Planned Parenthood representatives were on hand, arguing the bill would ultimately make abortions harder to get in the state.

Alisa LaPolt Snow with Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates presented this perspective, saying in the hearing that even if a child were born alive, she believes it is still the mother’s right to decide its fate.

The Weekly Standard pointed out to a clip from the full committee hearing, which took place Wednesday, where Snow was questioned by representatives about the position: More

The president has used his executive powers to bolster the national background check system, jumpstart government research on the causes of gun violence and create a million-dollar ad campaign aimed at safe gun ownership.

The executive steps will give federal law enforcement officials access to more data about guns and their owners, help keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill, and lay the groundwork for future legislative efforts.

It is unclear whether the National Rifle Association (NRA) will challenge any of the executive actions in court. A spokesman for the NRA did not return a request for comment.

Gov. Martin O'Malley's gun control plan is headed to the House of Delegates floor mostly intact.

After more than eight hours of discussion at a Friday voting session, the House Judiciary and Health and Government Operations committees voted 28-17 to give an amended version of the bill a favorable report.

WASHINGTON — Congressional inaction could end up costing college students an extra $5,000 on their new loans.

The rate for subsidized Stafford loans is set to increase from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent on July 1, just as millions of new college students start signing up for fall courses. The difference between the two rates adds up to $6 billion.

Just a year ago, lawmakers faced a similar deadline and dodged the rate increase amid the heated presidential campaign between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney. But that was with the White House up for grabs and before Washington was consumed by budget standoffs that now seem routine.More

Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan released the following statement regarding the General Assembly's final approval of the Governor's motor fuel tax proposal:Annapolis - "Two outcomes of the Governor's legislative agenda is to make gasoline and electricity more expensive. We have now seen 36 consecutive tax, fee and toll increases that will remove $3.1 billion out of the pockets of struggling Marylander's per year, with these motor fuel taxes and the additional fees required of utility customers to support offshore wind.

"Instead of developing a coherent transportation policy, our top elected officials took the easy way out by adding yet more of a tax burden to a state that has faced so many in recent years. They choreographed the proposal's original announcement, committee hearings and final votes to take place on late Fridays and in the evenings to avoid news coverage in the waning days of this legislative session. This speaks volumes about just how unpopular more taxes are, and this may push Maryland to the tipping point. Taxpayers have finally had enough."

In a comprehensive interview, Rep. Andy Harris (R-1st) discussed the impact federal action could have on the Lower Eastern Shore and what he plans to do to protect and promote the interests of this region in Congress.

Harris discussed his plans for using his new role as a member of the House Appropriations Committee to ensure oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency, and other federal policies that could negatively affect agriculture, the poultry industry, and tourism. He also offered his views on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare.”More

This statement is issued regarding the condition of the suspect involved in the shooting incident that occurred on March 29, 2013 in Rawlings, Maryland.

The suspect identified as Samuel E. George, 53, of the 15000-block of Meadow Dale Drive, Rawlings, Maryland has died from the gunshot wounds sustained during a standoff with troopers. He was pronounced dead this afternoon at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

The criminal investigation is being conducted by the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit, which conducts criminal investigations in to all shootings involving Maryland state troopers. Homicide Unit investigators are being assisted by investigators from C3I and the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office as well as crime scene technicians from the Maryland State Police Forensic Science Division.

State Police investigators have conducted interviews with persons who witnessed the incident. Evidence collected from the scene will be reviewed and analyzed to corroborate witness statements. All victims involved are currently cooperating with investigators.

The Allegany County State’s Attorney responded to the scene and has been continually updated on the active investigation. The Maryland State Police Internal Affairs Unit is also conducted an investigation into the police involved shooting, which is procedure.

OCEAN CITY – The town of Ocean City is starting to feel the heat as this summer approaches with a crammed schedule of events.

Last week several private event requests were scheduled under the Mayor and City Council’s legislative consent agenda when most of them were removed to discuss in further detail.

Up first, Chris Prybylo of Alli Sports requested approval of the 2013 Dew Tour. The Dew Tour’s stop in Ocean City this summer is June 20-23 when professional BMX, skateboarders and surfers will compete for a title. The event takes place downtown on the beach between the Inlet and North Division Street.More

Belinda Antionette Stanford of Salisbury, arrested 3-21-13 on a warrant for failing to appear in court. Stanford was held on a $500.00 bond.

Juvenile arrested at Washington High School on 3-21-13 for disturbing school functions. Deputies were called to the school for a student that wouldn’t give the principal his ear phones, the student later used profanities towards the principal. The juvenile was arrested and charged with disturbing school functions, and released to parents pending juvenile court actions.

Terri Lynn Dennis of Crisfield, criminal summons served on 3-23-13 for uttering a bad check, false statements to law enforcement, and theft less than $100.00. The summons was the result of a bad check investigation where Dennis allegedly wrote a check from a closed bank account to Linton’s Seafood, Crisfield. Dennis was later released on signature pending court actions.

Latrice Janel Belote of Princess Anne, arrested 3-23-13 on a warrant for violation of probation. Belote was held on a $20,000 bond.

Juvenile arrested 3-25-13 for assaulting teaching staff at the Somerset Intermediate School. Deputies investigated an assault at the school involving a male juvenile that became disorderly after being suspended. The juvenile later pushed and shoved teaching staff. The juvenile was arrested for four counts of 2nd degree assault, and disturbing school functions, and later released to parents pending juvenile court actions.

Seumas Ureil Custis of Princess Anne, arrested 3-25-13 for warrants regarding failing to appear in court. Custis was held on a $1,000 bond.

Juvenile arrested at the Tawes Vo-Tech school on 3-25-13. Deputies were called to the school for a disorderly student that refused to leave the classroom. Deputies later learned that the male juvenile threw a marker striking another student. The juvenile later used profanities at teaching staff until deputies arrived. The juvenile was charged with 2nd degree assault, and disturbing school operations, and later released to parents pending court actions.

Almami Ibraham Cylih of Princess Anne, arrested 3-26-13 on a Circuit Court indictment for possession of marijuana, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Cyllah was held on a $25,000 bond.

James paul Stephens Jr. of Crisfield, arrested 3-26-13 on a warrant for violation of probation. Stephens was held on a $10,000 bond.

Melvin Lee Brunson of Westover, arrested 3-27-13 on a warrant for violation of probation. Brunson was later held without bond, and returned to the Somerset County Detention Center.

Juvenile arrested at the Washington High School on 3-27-13 for possession of marijuana. Deputies were called to the school for a male student possessing baggies of suspected marijuana. Deputies later recovered 13 individually wrapped baggies of suspected marijuana. The juvenile was arrested and charged with possessing marijuana, and possession with the intent to distribute marijuana. The juvenile was later released to parents pending court actions.

Shekienna Dickerson Corbin of Horntown Virginia, arrested 3-28-13 for a body attachment. Corbin was held without bond.

Just 25 days after it was introduced, the Maryland Senate enacted the first gas tax hike in 21 years, sending the governor a 10 to 12 cent per gallon increase by 2015. The bill calls for the tax to go even higher — it will rise automatically in future years.

Instead the Democrats stuck with the title Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013, saying that the estimated $2 billion it would raise over the next five years will help bolster Maryland’s depleted Transportation Trust Fund. The money would be used to build and maintain roads and transit systems, including three new major transit lines, if federal money comes through.More

(Salisbury, MD) Eastern Shore Auctions will hold a Baseball and Sports Collectibles Auction at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center on April 11 & 12. This auction will sell the lifetime sports and baseball collections of four of the area’s prominent collectors.Among the collectibles up for auction are over 400 autographs of some of sports greatest stars including Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Cal Ripken, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Willie Mays, Stan Musial, Hank Aaron, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, John Unitas, Bill Russell, Bob Cousey, Duke Snider, Johnny Bench and Billy Williams. These autographs are on prints, photos, balls, bats, cards, books, magazines and other collectibles.The auction will feature over 50 framed prints, drawings, photographs and plaques, several of which are autographed. Prints by George Wright include a Ted Williams autographed lithograph, John Unitas print with remarque, Babe Ruth print with remarque, Eddie Murray print, three "A Tradition of Excellence" prints autographed by Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, Cal Ripken, Jr., and Jim Palmer, a Harold Baines autographed print and a Maryland Terrapins National Championship print autographed by Gary Williams.

Autographed balls include The Perfect YANKEES ball signed by Don Larsen and Yogi Berra 1956, David Wells and Jorge Posada 1998, and David Cone and Joe Gerardi 1999, 1970 & 1977 Yankee team balls, and more. Thousands of baseball cards will also be available from the 1950s-present.The auction will also have a large quantity of Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees memorabilia and Cal Ripken, Jr., Mickey Mantle and Derek Jeter collectibles and autographs. If you are a Cal Ripken fan, this is a great opportunity to own a piece of history.

The auction will be held in the Danang Rooms of the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. Hours are Friday 2:00–7:00PM and Saturday 8:00AM–6:00 PM. Refreshments will be available for purchase. For more information, please call 443.235.5717.

The deputies of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office could get more work done if they did not have to spend so much time with paperwork after arresting suspects, Sheriff Reggie Mason told the Worcester County Commissioners on Tuesday.

“It just takes way, way too long,” he said, as he asked them to “consider central booking for us and the towns.”

When a deputy makes an arrest, the required paperwork and trip to the Sheriff’s Office in Snow Hill can mean that he or she cannot do road patrol or respond to incidents for three hours. Although the deputy would still have to drive to Snow Hill if the requested change is made, that deputy “could be back on the road in 20 minutes” because much of the paperwork would be done by others.More

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of Labor's release of preliminary employment data for the month of February:“Together, we set a goal in Maryland to recover every single job we've lost during the Bush recession by the end of 2014, and today we are closer than ever before to reaching that goal – we have now recovered nearly 95 percent of those jobs.

“Last month, the people of our State created 10,500 jobs, our best February for job creation in more than a decade. Over the last 12 months, we have now created 38,200 new jobs with our private sector leading the way - creating 95 percent of those new jobs. Today, our unemployment rate has been driven down to its lowest level in four years - 6.6 percent - 14 percent below the national rate.

“This preliminary report marks one more positive milestone in our jobs recovery, but there are still too many Marylanders out of work. That's why together, we must make the better choices to invest in a stronger future: more job creation, more opportunity, and a stronger, growing middle class.”

SNOW HILL — When the Julia A. Purnell Museum reopens on April 2 for the 2013 season, a new exhibit will be on display featuring the museum's collection of historic bathing costumes. Summer at the Shore also includes information and artifacts related to Ocean City and Public Landing.

The museum has a fine collection of swimwear, from women's wool bathing dresses from the late nineteenth and early 20th century, to suits from the 1950s and 1960s. These artifacts (some of which have not been previously exhibited) will form the base of the exhibit.

Also included are photographs of Ocean City in the early 20th century and Public Landing during its heyday, and an array of beach-related artifacts from the museum’s collection, as well as several items generously loaned from the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum. The exhibit has interactive elements such as telescope pictures with historic beach photos from the museum's collection inside.More

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley issued the following statement on new motor fuel standards announced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

“The new motor fuel standards proposed today by the Environmental Protection Agency under President Obama’s leadership will help Maryland reach its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020. Reductions from mobile sources are one of the most important strategies needed to provide clean air to Maryland’s citizens for generations to come. Today's actions will also provide a significant benefit to the Chesapeake Bay as approximately one-third of its nitrogen issues are caused by air pollution.

“By proposing these new robust vehicle and fuel quality standards, President Obama and the EPA have made a strong commitment to protecting the public’s health and our environment. Together with our federal partners, we can create a more sustainable future for our children.”

Delmarva Power is asking Maryland regulators to approve a $22.7 million rate increase on its customers.

The utility said Friday that the proposed base rate adjustment is needed to help pay for costs incurred in providing electrical service. Delmarva said the rate increase also includes about $6.5 million for costs associated with restoring power after storms last year, amortized over a five-year period.

If the rate increase is approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission, a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month would pay an additional $7.74 per month, a 5.5 percent increase.More

Change Maryland founder and Chairman, Secretary Larry Hogan, will be on WMAL in Washington at 4:00 today on the Rob Carson Show talking about the 80% increase in the gas tax and the 36 consecutive O'Malley tax hikes that will now take an additional $3.1 billion more out of the pockets of struggling Maryland families and small businesses, each year.

A lot of us take for granted the many amenities we enjoy every day. Many have given up on voting because they think their one vote won’t matter. Nothing could be further from the truth. Local elections are sometimes won by just one vote. The results impact our financial future.

I have among my many historical letters and documents a letter dated October 18, 1909 from the Democratic State Central Committee, M. V. Brewington, Secretary, appealing for Democrats to get out and vote. A hundred years ago, most people who voted did so down strict party lines. Either you were a Democrat of a Republican. This letter goes on to say that the Democratic party in Wicomico County stands for progress, good roads, good schools and low taxes and entreats fellow Democrats to get out and vote or else the election could fall into Republican hands with their 1400 negro voters which control the destiny of that party. Apparently, much unlike today, the Afro-American community was largely behind the Republicans. Much of this was because Abraham Lincoln was a Republican.

This shouldn’t make any difference at all these days. We should vote for someone with a proven track record that is going to be fiscally responsible with our tax dollars. The campaign brochure accompanying this letter has ten short biographies of the candidates vying for the various offices. Most fall into the “windbag” category of heralding their virtues. Nowhere in there is mention of past accomplishments beneficial to the taxpayers. We should be very careful of “false prophets” with their promises. What should matter is looking back on their accomplishments and deciding if that is the best path to a prosperous future for us.

Politicians have not changed much over the years. They make great promises; tell us what we want to hear. But we should be keenly aware of who has been a truly financial watchdog and has a proven track record. No matter how good a politician has been, they can’t help us if we do not vote them back into office. I think we have all had a bellyful of “change”. Sometimes the fresh face and smooth talk are not the change we want or need. Politicians want power and that doesn’t always mean their constituents will get a better life. Look at past accomplishments to see what a candidate has brought to the table and will more than likely continue to do so.

But the important thing is that everyone casts their vote. It is a freedom and a right that many men have fought and died for. The turnout at the polls in this country is abysmal. We should be ashamed that so few people exercise this precious right. Remember, if you don’t vote, you have no right to complain about the state of affairs.